Little, Henry. The Wesleyan Harmony (1820)
This is a rare item and it sold quickly. We are posting it here for you intrepid researchers who might want to have a look at it.
Little, Henry. The Wesleyan Harmony, A Compilation of Short Tunes for Public Worship; Adapted to the various Metres in the Methodist Hymn Book now in Use: with a Table of the particular Metre Hymns, and Names of the Tunes annexed in which they may be Sung. Designed for the Methodist Societies, but proper for all Denominations. Hallowell [ME]: E. Goodale - Sold by him and the Compiler at Bucksport., 1820. First Edition. [5971}
Leather spine, plain blue paper over oak boards, large area of wood exposed on back, oblong 9 x 5 1/4 inches, old 2 1/2 inch thin wire repair to front. Begins at title page. 125, (ix.) pp. One leaf with closed tear at inner margin, last leaf of subscriber's names torn and lacking about half of the leaf. Text otherwise complete; no free end papers at either end. Good. Hardcover.
Scarce. WorldCat lists this only as a digital document based on a defective copy at Princeton Theological Seminary Library. The second edition of 1821 is held by one institution only.
We have been able to find information on the printer, but not on the compiler.
"Ezekiel Goodale, age 20, came to Hallowell, opened a book binding business and also sold books from his home. In 1814 he opened a printing office and bookstore - The Hallowell Bookstore, Sign of the Bible. By 1821 he was established at #1 Kennebec Row, and published 'The Hallowell Gazette' here until it closed in 1827. The Gazette claimed a Federalist persuasion; the bookstore was the largest on Water Street and supplied textbooks to schoolmasters throughout central Maine." - Gerry Mahoney, A Brief History of Publishing in Hallowell.
Another writer has Goodale setting up shop in Hallowell in 1802 at the age of twenty-two, "and opened the first bookstore established east of Portland, 'The Hallowell Bookstore - Sign of the Bible.' He imported the best books available from England and stock from the Boston book trade. For those who couldn't afford books he provided the services of his innovative 'Circulating Library,' a subscription library offered to patrons for a small fee." - unsigned article at Historic Hallowell online.